Thailand focuses on quality Chinese tourists

Published on : Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Tourism in Thailand is changing fast. Hence, it might not see overwhelming number of Chinese tourists anytime soon. Package tour groups from the world’s largest outbound tourist market are decreasing in popularity, while free and independent travelers and quality travelers are gaining in importance. Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said, “We are not reverting to the old scenario of growth which was not realistic. Our future growth will be sustainable.”

Thai tourism authorities aren’t worried about maximum tourists from China but focusing on revenue growth that they can contribute to the country. Chinese tourists are also changing in category, who are being labeled as FITs with 55% arrivals and their percentage is expected to go up 70-80% in the coming days. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said Chinese visitors this year could go up to 9.10 million with a 14% rise. TAT officials said that they aim to increase Chinese visitors’ spending per trip per head to 48,000 baht this year, taking total earnings to 483 billion baht. Kobkarn said that their priority is that Chinese tourists spend more time and money in Thailand. She said that crackdown on tour scams was right and even supported by tourism operators and Chinese authorities.